Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. P. EAKIN.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Apr. 201, 1886.

trice.

` Aralar JOHNv PIERCE EAKIN, -OF .TOLLYIOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.Y

CAe-ooUPLiNe.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,298, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed February 26, 1986. Serial No. l98,3l0. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN Pinnen EAKIN. a

citizen ofthe United States, residing at Jollytown, in the county of Greene and State of Pennsylvania. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, and l do hereby declare that the following` is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and tigures ot' reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevation of my invention with one of the draw-heads in section; Fig. 2, a cross-section of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a detail view in perspective oi' the vertical coupling-link; Fig. 4, a similar vie\w of the latch, and Fig. 5 a perspective view o1' the draw-bolt. Y

The present invention has for its object to provide a simple, effective, and easily-operating car-coupling, that will be automatic in its action, thus avoiding the danger in coupling the cars; and the invention consists in the details of construction substantially as shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A B represent the two opposing draw-heads of the railroad-cars, formed upon their exterior with L- shaped recesses a, in which are seated latches C. These latches consist of rods having at their extremities arms b c, disposed at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig'. 4, a shoulder, d, beingv formed on therods, against which bears one end of' aspiral spring, c, coiled around the rod, and the opposite end of said spring abutting against a guide, j', through which the rod passes and is guided in its movement, a similar guide, g, being employed for the larger end ot' the rod.

. To one side of the recess a and joining therewith is a vertical slot, h, extending entirely through the draw-head, to receive the vertically-sliding coupling-link D. The link D is formed on its inner face with a notch, z', withv which engages the arm c of the latch. to hold the link elevated to couple with the opposing draw-heath The link D is provided with any suitable means for attaching to its upper end a chain, lever, or other device, whereby it may be raised from the top or either side of the car, and the link has a slotJc, enlarged in width at its lower end, so that when the enlarged portion of the slot is on line with the opening Z in the draw-head it will allow the conical head m of the coupling or draw bolt E to pass through the slot in the link. The draw-bolt E is formed with a bumper, F, to operate the spring-latch C when brought against it, thus releasing the arm c with the notch and allowing the link to fall of its own weight, a pin, n, on the link formingastop to prevent the link from falling too far through the draw-head, and shoulders o on the lower end of the link preventing it from being drawn Itoo far np or outof thedraw-head. The opening Z in the draw-head is flaring at its outer end, in order to receive the draw-holt E at any angle, and when the link D is`in an elevated position and is held by the arm ot' thelatch C, engaging with the notch t, it is ready for coupling with the opposite draw-head, carrying the draw-bolt E, the head'm thereof as the two draw-heads come together entering freely the lower or enlarged end of the slot, and as the bumper F strikes against the arm b ot' latch C it forces the arm c out of engagement with the notch t', and immediately thereafter the link will descend ot' its own weight and iirmly hold the bolt E in the contracted or narrow portion of the slot 7c. When uncoupling the draw-heads, one ot' the links is raised until the lower or larger end of the slot therein is on line with the opening in the draw-head, and when the notch in the link is opposite the inner arm of the latch the spring thereof will cause it to automatically engage with the notch Iand hold the link in a position ready for coupling.

To enable the coupling-link to be raised by hand, should it be so desired, the upper end is formed with an opening, p.

Having now fully described 'my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a car-coupling, the combina-tion, with draw-heads provided with spring-latches and vertical slots through said heads, of vertically-sliding coupling-links having notches with which the latches. engage, and slots enlarged at their lower ends, and a draw-bolt provided IOC with enlarged heads to engage with the links, arms, anda spring coiled around the rods, sub- Io and a bumper to operate the latches, substanstantially as and for the purpose specified. tially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony that I claim the above I have 2. In a car-coupling, a draw-bar having enhereunto subscribed my name in the presence 5 largedheadsand abumper, and links provided of two witnesses.

with notches and stops and slots enlarged at JOHN PIERCE EAKIN. l their lower ends, in combination with suitable draw-heads provided with spring-latches consisting of rods having at their extremities Witnesses:

JACOB GLovrs, A. E. CLOVIS. 

